1 week Ago By Kim, Jungahn
A wave of excitement swept through the Italian Embassy in Yongsan, Seoul, as volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung made her entrance at the ‘Sports IT Day' event. Ambassador Emilia Gatto proudly introduced Kim, saying, "We are honored to have the world's best volleyball player, Kim Yeon-koung, here with us today," as the crowd of embassy staff, invited guests, and 18 students from Majang Elementary School cheered and applauded. The event, held on September 6, marked the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Italy and aimed to strengthen sports diplomacy between the two nations.
Ambassador Gatto emphasized Italy's commitment to sports diplomacy, announcing that this year, Italian embassies worldwide would be hosting similar events. The timing of the celebration coincided with the arrival of Italian men's professional volleyball powerhouse Vero Volley Monza, who had come to Korea for a series of friendly matches. The Monza team, including captain Thomas Beretta, attended the event ahead of their scheduled matches against Korean champions Korean Air on September 7 and a V-League All-Star team on September 8.
Adding to the star-studded event were Monza’s head coach Marcello Abbondanza, who also coaches Kim Yeon-koung’s team, Heungkuk Life Insurance, and former national cycling champion Park Sung-baek, winner of the 2012 Tour de Korea. Kim, who has a strong connection to Italy through her time playing in the Italian volleyball league, expressed her enthusiasm for the event. "Italy is a volleyball powerhouse, and I’ve had personal ties to Italian volleyball, so I was happy to participate," Kim said.
"Ambassador Gatto mentioned her hope for more cultural and sporting exchanges between Korea and Italy through volleyball, and I completely agree." Ambassador Gatto praised Kim for her on- and off-court achievements, highlighting her work with her foundation to support children, calling her "the best volleyball player in the world and a truly outstanding athlete." Coach Abbondanza also reflected on the importance of sports, saying, "Volleyball is a significant sport in Korean society, and I’m eager to help elevate the international competitiveness of Korean volleyball.
Events like this are a great opportunity to promote Korean volleyball in Italy." In addition to volleyball, the event featured a football training session for Majang Elementary School students led by Matteo Cerica, an Italian coach who teaches youth soccer in Korea. The ‘Sports IT Day' served as a festive and meaningful celebration of the growing cultural and sporting ties between Korea and Italy.
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